Wedge for concrete tie rods



3, 1 D. c. HUNGERFORD 2,168,991

WEDGE FOR CONCRETE TIE RODS Original Filed July 24, 1935 F7 Q F157: 5

4 3/4- 445W i E WA 4 44 4 2 LK INVENTOR ATTO RN EY S Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES WEDGE FOR CONCRETE TIE RODS Daniel C. Hungerford, Chalfont, Pa., assignor to Star Expansion Bolt Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Illinois Original application July 24, 1935, Serial No.

32,864. Divided and this application September 16, 1937, Serial No. 164,151

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wedges for concrete tie rods.

Its object is to provide a novel wedge which can be quickly and easily applied to concrete forms and as readily removed when the concrete is set. It is constructed with impact members at its ends to facilitate its insertion and removal. The impact member at the smaller end of the Wedge is separated from the wedge by an aperture. It has an extendedheel at its larger end which forms a holding surface when the wedge is driven in to its extreme position and. its other end is beveled to facilitate its insertion, and may be provided with a wrench socket adapted to engage the particular type of tie rod with which this wedge is especially designed to cooperate.

The body of the wedge is divided by a longitudinal slot with tapered surfaces bordering it. Outside of the tapered surfaces are longitudinal ribs which merge into the body of the wedge and into the other end of the structure. The smaller end of the wedge forms an impact member divided by an aperture from the part which closes this end of the slot.

These and. other objects of the invention will be described in the following specification and its novel features pointed out in appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wedge which is made according to and embodies the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the wedge shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the smaller end of a wedge showing a modification of construction, in this case with its stripping wrench omitted;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a wedge of further modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the wedge shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of parts of a concrete form. structure, a tie rod, and of my novel wedge, illustrating the relative positions of these parts when the wedge is in one of its extreme positions. Another wedge is shown in this figure in broken lines to illustrate the manner of its use as a stripping wrench.

The wedge, designated generally by the reference numeral 30, comprises a base 3| which is substantially flat to engage a part of a concrete form structure, such as a waler (Fig. 6), except at its lower end where it is beveled, as shown at 32, to facilitate its insertion between the waler and one of the heads II, l2 or I3 of a tie rod Ill.

The wedge is slotted throughout the greater part of its length, as at 33, and the sides of the slot form inclined surfaces 34 supported by longitudinal ribs 35 at their sides which merge into the body of the wedge and give it uniform strength throughout its length. The surfaces 34 slope 5 gradually from the base 3|, except at their lower ends 34A where they are steeper. The lower end of the slot terminates in a transversely wider open portion 36 of sufficient size to clear the rod heads. The upper end of the slot is 10 closed by a portion 31 which forms an anvil head. Above this head the base is continued to form a heel 38, the purpose of which will be pointed out. The lower end of the wedge is extended, as at 40', and has an aperture 4| which forms a 'Wrench for engagement with the outer head 13 of the tie rod which is shaped for such engagement. The end 42 forms an impact member which can be used to loosen the Wedge. A cross bar 43 forms a bridge between the apertures.

When the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 6, the inclined surfaces of the Wedge engage one or another of the tie rod heads H, 12 or l3, depending upon the thicknesses of the lumber used in the form. The heads pass through the opening 36 but ride up first on the steep inclined surfaces 34A which engage them. This draws the parts of the mold together and keeps them from separating. Then the parts may be tightened by hammer blows on the anvil head 31. Fig. 6 shows how the full length of the inclined surfaces 34 may be utilized. When the wedge is driven down its full length, its heel portion 38 forms a bearing for it on the waler 50.

After the concrete is set the wedge may be 35 loosened by a hammer blow on its lower end and then removed. Its Wrench end 40 may be used to twist and break the tie rod. A wedge is indicated at 30 by broken lines in Fig. 6, positioned for such operation. The Wedge itself may be 40 used as a lever to pull out the broken end of the rod.

In Fig. 3 the lower end of a wedge is shown with the Wrench extension 40 omitted. The wedge shown in Figs. 4 and 5, designated generally by the reference numeral 30A, differs from that shown in the preceding figures in the construction of its ends. The anvil surface 31A is at the extreme end of the structure and more 50 widely spaced from the part which closes the upper end of the slot.

The impact member 42A is separated from the closure for the smaller end of the wedge by a segmental aperture A which, by spacing the part which closes the lower end of the slot, forms a transverse bridge 43A.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 32,864, filed by me July 24, 1935.

Structural modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A wedge having a slot widened at one end to receive, and inclined surfaces to engage a headed form tie and longitudinal ribs bordering said surfaces at the smaller end of the wedge, said ribs being merged into the body of the wedge toward the larger end thereof.

2. A wedge having a slot closed at both ends, tapered surfaces bordering the slot and ribs bordering the tapered surfaces, said ribs being merged into the body of the wedge toward the larger end thereof and into the closure at the smaller end of the wedge.

33. A wedge having a slot closed at both ends, tapered surfaces bordering the slot and ribs bordering the tapered surfaces, said ribs being merged into the body of the wedge toward the larger end thereof and into the closure at the smaller end of the wedge, and an aperture through the closure at the smaller end of the wedge.

4. A wedge having a slot widened at one end to receive, and inclined surfaces to engage a headed form tie and longitudinal ribs bordering said surfaces at the smaller end of the wedge, said ribs being merged into the body of the Wedge toward the large end thereof and extending at least to the longitudinal centers of the inclined surfaces.

5. A wedge having a slot widened at one end to receive, and inclined surfaces to engage a headed form tie and longitudinal ribs bordering said surfaces at the smaller end of the wedge, said ribs being merged into the body of the wedge toward the large end thereof, the outer surfaces of said ribs being substantially parallel to the back surface of the wedge.

DANIEL C. HUNGERFORD. 

